Introducing Text Structures in Writing-5th Grd

Summary:This activity introduces students to the idea that science writing is organized in identifiable patterns called text structures. Understanding and using these different text structures help refine students’ abilities to both read and write in science.

Main Curriculum Tie: English Language Arts Grade 5Reading: Informational Text Standard 5Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.

Informational Science Trade Books
As you develop resources for teaching text structures, begin with
texts you already have in your classroom. You will find text
structures in all expository writing. The following list of trade books
has fifth grade science core connections that contain examples of the
text structure listed.You could also find these text structures in Social Studies Texts

Reading and writing are essential skills in science. This activity
introduces students to the idea that science writing is organized in
identifiable patterns called text structures. Understanding and using these
different text structures help refine students’ abilities to both read and
write in science. The following five patterns are commonly found in
science writing:

Description

Cause and Effect

Sequence

Problem Solution

Compare and Contrast

A close reading of the Science Core Curriculum Standards,
Objectives, and indicators suggests when writing might be used as part of
science instruction. Verbs such as “describe,” “compare,” and “explain”
signal that writing is an appropriate activity for that objective. That is
not to say writing should be the only activity. Inquiry experiences and
other hands-on science activities should be the center of science
instruction. Writing is a good way to help students clarify their thinking,
unite the big ideas in an objective, and to assess learning.

Because this lesson focuses on writing skills, it may actually be best
taught in the language arts block. Writing is the perfect way to integrate
science and language arts. Science gives students something—topics—to
write about. Writing helps solidify understanding in science.

Invitation to Learn
Show students the Text Structure Sample Sentence Strips,
then post them on a chart or the board. Explain that science writing is
often expository writing—writing that explains information and ideas—
and that it is organized in different patterns called text structures. Show
them the Text Structure Word Cards. Have students read the
Text Structure Sample Sentence Strips and match them with the Text
Structure Word Cards.

This activity may be done with the whole class or in a small group
setting.

TEXT
STRUCTURE

EXAMPLE

DESCRIPTION

Golden Eagles are powerful raptors with large
dark brown bodies and small heads with
golden crowns.

SEQUENCE

First Golden Eagles soar high along ridges near
their nests. They search for prey. When a meal
is spotted, they attack in a long swoop.

COMPARE AND
CONTRAST

Golden Eagles are apt to hunt for prey while
Bald Eagles are more likely to take an easy
meal.

CAUSE AND
EFFECT

So many Bald Eagles were killed by pesticides
and illegal hunting that they were in danger of
becoming extinct.

PROBLEM AND
SOLUTION

When a raptor species declines, scientists take
wild bird eggs to raise in captivity and increase
the number of birds.

Instructional Procedures
These procedures use direct instruction to explicitly teach students
different science text structures. The same general process is used for
teaching each text structure. Ideally, you should introduce and model
each text structure separately. Next, give repeated practice in
identifying the structure and then continue to reinforce it as it is
encountered in science texts. When the students are proficient at
identifying and understanding the organization of the structure, teach
them to use it in their own science writing. Three writing activities
that use specific text structures are included in this handbook: Using
Description to Write in Science, Using Compare and Contrast
to Write in Science, and Using Cause and Effect to Write in
Science.

Select a short passage of science writing that exhibits the kind
of text structure you want to teach. The writing may be from a
science text you use, a science trade book, a magazine article, or a
piece of student writing. Text Structure Samples that go with the
fifth grade Science Core are included. Representative
trade books are listed in Additional Resources.

Provide students with copies of the text you are going to read.
This may be a textbook, a set of books for a small reading group,
a student news magazine, a photocopy of a science article, or an
overhead transparency of a short text.

Tell students that you want them to follow along as you read a
piece of science writing. Explain that you will think out loud as
you read it. Share your thoughts about the things you notice
about the structure of the writing. Point out words and phrases
that signal how the passage is organized. You may want to use a
second piece of writing with the same text structure and have
students share their thinking as you read and look for clues about
how it is organized.

Show students a Text Structure Definitions poster and a
Text Structure Graphic Organizers for text structure.
Display the poster and graphic organizer. Or you may create your
own definition of the text structure with your class and display it.

Reread the passage with the class. Look for the features of the
particular text structure. Have students use highlighters or sticky
notes to mark text features. The following chart summarizes the
main features of the text structures.

TEXT
STRUCTURE

FEATURES OF THE TEXT STRUCTURE

DESCRIPTION

Main idea, unique features, supporting ideas,
examples.

SEQUENCE

Lists in order a series of events, steps in a
process.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Lists and explains similarities and differences of
two ideas.

CAUSE AND
EFFECT

Explains causes or reasons and the results or
effects.

PROBLEM AND
SOLUTION

States a problem and possible solutions or
answers.

Have students look for words or phrases that help signal what
kind of text structure a passage is. These are often transition
words that lead from one sentence or idea to the next. Have
students mark the words with a highlighter or sticky note. Make a
class list of these signal phrases. The chart below summarizes the
signal words and phrases typical of each text structure.

TEXT STRUCTURE

KEY WORDS FOUND IN THE
TEXT STRUCTURE

DESCRIPTION

for example, involves, can be defined, for
instance, on, over, next to, also, within

Refer to the graphic organizer for the text structure you are
teaching. Together with the class, separate the parts of the text
and write them in the graphic organizer. It might be drawn on the
board, chart paper, or on an overhead transparency. Display the
graphic organizer for the class to refer to.

Have students practice looking for other examples of the text
structure in their science reading.

Repeat the process with other text structures throughout the year.

Extensions:

Teach the science text structures in small reading groups for more
individualized instruction and practice.

Use the text structures for other informational reading and
writing, for example, in social studies.

Show samples of student work that are examples of different text
structures.

Assessment Plan: Use informal assessment to check for understanding in reading
discussions. Reteach in small guided-reading groups as
necessary. Give students examples of several different text
structures and have them identify the text structures.